Cardinals, Daniel Descalso avoid arbitration

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals and infielder Daniel Descalso avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $1.29 million, one-year contract, the midpoint between the $1.65 million he had asked for and the $930,000 St. Louis had offered.

St. Louis settled with all three arbitration-eligible players, agreeing earlier this month with outfielders Peter Bourjos and Jon Jay.

The 27-year-old set career bests with five home runs, 42 RBIs, 25 doubles and 43 runs scored last season, when he appeared in 123 games and made $511,000. Descalso and Jamey Carroll are the only players in the majors to have made 90 appearances at third base, second base and shortstop the last three seasons.

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The non-guaranteed contract includes a $10,000 performance bonus for 250 plate appearances.